FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2016
†Gresham-Barlow School District water testing update
†On June 1 the Gresham-Barlow School District announced it would voluntarily test for lead in the drinking water of all of the districtís schools in light of concerns raised in other school districts in Oregon.
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The school district is following information and guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency for lead testing. Testing drinking water quality is a two-step process that starts with sample testing lead accumulation in stagnant water. If the sample test shows potential elevated levels of lead above 15 parts per billion (ppb) those fixtures are immediately shut off and undergo a follow-up test. The water supply will remain shut off to those fixtures until they are remediated and the problem has been fixed.
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The district started receiving the initial sample test results on June 8, 2016. As the results for each school come in, the information will be posted on the school districtís website at www.gresham.k12.or.us. The information will be shared directly with staff and parents at the school.
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Please continue to monitor the Gresham-Barlow School District website throughout this process.
†Information on health effects of lead
For information about the health effects of lead and how to check for lead in your home, visit the Multnomah County Health Departmentís website: www.leadline.org. To ask questions, call the Multnomah County Lead Hotline at 503-988-4000, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or email leadline@multco.us.
†Information about water quality in Gresham-Barlow schools
For more information about the water quality in Gresham-Barlow schools, contact the GBSD Community Relations Department at 503-261-4558 or gbsd@gresham.k12.or.us.